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Four stars for the magic of Penn and Teller

Dominic Maxwell

June 17 2014, 1:01am, The Times

Penn and Teller's wit and attention to detail left our reviewer grinning like an idiot

Never mind the mind-reading, the card tricks, the escapology and the juggling of broken bottles, Penn and Teller’s greatest trick has always been their ability to have their cake and eat it too. “Lie, cheat, swindle, rip off: that is what we do,” says Penn Jillette towards the end of this freaky, funny and frankly amazing night of magic.

Because although this American double act enjoy debunking psychics, con artists and rival magicians, they’re also happy to let us in on their own double-dealing. Or at least to give the illusion that they do. So it’s pretty impressive when the debonair, diminutive Teller performs a trick, side-on, involving the slick manipulation of a cigarette. It’s pretty jaw-dropping when he then repeats the trick, turning 180…